'Minor technical issue' reported on HMS Prince of Wales with repairs underway to fix Royal Navy flagship
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The aircraft carrier has been at the helm of the UK Carrier Strike Group and conducting exercises in the High North
A mechanical fault has been reported on the Royal Navy flagship undertaking exercises in Norway.
HMS Prince of Wales, currently in charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), has suffered a technical defect and is currently alongside Stavanger in Norway. Navy Lookout reports that “a minor technical issue was identified” between May 14 and 17.
They added that it could mean she doesn’t attend a planned visit to Copenhagen, Denmark. Engineers have been working on the 65,000 tonne warship for several days. The issue didn’t stop the warship from taking part in Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, Nato’s large premier anti-submarine warfare training operation. New technology including autonomous aircraft were extensively trialled to scope out subsurface threats.
The UKCSG and Nato warships in Standing Maritime Group 1 also had to contend with a Russian spy ship which was spotted loitering nearby. After completing the 10-day operation, HMS Prince of Wales returned to port for repairs. Navy Lookout said they’re expected to take slightly longer to fix than first believed.
The £3.2bn warship can still sail if needed, with the decision being made to solve the problem to ensure she can be available for any future tasks. This mechanical problem is considered a teething issue and not on the same scale as the propeller shaft misalignment fault that kept her out of action for several months in 2022.
As part of Operation Firecrest, the Royal Navy will be conducting various military drills in the North Atlantic and High North alongside Nato allies. This is in response to Russian’s growing submarine fleet and increasing activities in the region.
An MoD spokesperson told Navy Lookout: “HMS Prince of Wales is currently conducting a port visit to Stavanger as part of the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment across the North Atlantic and Arctic. We expect her to set sail in the coming days. We continue to work closely with our allies and partners to improve global security and strengthen defence cooperation as recently demonstrated on exercise Dynamic Mongoose.”